We've been able to have some great fun this winter as a family. I try and schedule one stimulating activity a day for the girls. Sometimes they are small like a trip to the library, or toddler open gym, and then there are some bigger family trips that I call Daddy in for. These outings are so much fun and help me keep my sanity through the winter. Kate gets very excited when we are making our plans and proclaims, "We're going on an adventure!" She also comes up with ideas and after sharing checks where I stand by saying, "That sounds like a great idea, right Mommy?" If I agree, she lights up with a smile.
We made it to the Kohl's Children's Museum and we all had a great time. Kate loved caring for the animals, "eating" in the restaurant, and "shopping" for groceries. She could have been there all day!
Our two staple activities through the winter have been swimming at the Y and playing at Chuck E Cheese. I try to couple these outings with a dinner out and we call these family Date Nights.
Kate takes lessons on Saturdays and has continued to amaze us and her instructors with her advance swimming abilities. Megan loves the water too and I love that it tires them out. When we go swimming I bring the girls jammies, shower them in the locker room, and they are often sleeping by the time we get home! .
We also had a fabulous family Baptism. My cousin Matthew was baptised and Kate and Megan both had an amazing time at the banquet that followed. Kate and Tommy danced the night away. Megan danced, danced, and then danced some more. She was quite the party animal, and even developed a little break dance routine.
Brian took a Tuesday off and we made it to "free" day at the
Shedd aquarium. Pretty much anything that was fun you still had to pay for, but at least general admission was free, and we did have a great time.
My Mom went to the wholesalers convention in Las Vegas a few weeks ago for her on-line business and was nice enough to bring me along. It is great to be an employee of Finer Things. The business is really taking off and we have expanded to our own website and started selling on Amazon. As you can see there are some really good perks as an employee. The trip was wonderful. It was so nice to be in warmer weather, see the sights, and relax. We had an amazing time! We ate some incredible meals, swam in the pool at Paris, enjoyed the Bellagio fountains, did a little business, and I even found out I'm a pretty good poker player. What fun to spend a few days just me and my Mommy! 
We made it there last year and I never got around to posting the pictures. So here are 3 of Kate when she was our little girl!
